Jiang Huan's mocking smile deepened: "That's right. Only 'unmarried' girls aged fourteen or eighteen can participate. If a person has lost her virginity, she doesn't meet the requirements, right or wrong?"
Jiang Huan's question in public was incredibly vulgar. Mr. Qi, his face flushed with anger, ignored her completely. Jiang Huan, however, sneered at Ouyang Yue, "And the champion you've chosen might not be a virgin. She's probably been having an affair and has done something shameless. How can such a shameless woman be chosen as the champion of the beauty pageant? Isn't that an irony to all the respectable young women in the world?"
"What! Miss Ouyang has already lost her virginity?"
"Oh no... then she really doesn't deserve to be number one."
Mr. Qi also said with a stern face, "Princess Jiang Huan, do you have any evidence? If not, such baseless accusations give me the right to disqualify you from the competition and remove your name from the list." After all, Jiang Huan was in the top five, and although her ranking wasn't the best, it was definitely not bad.
Jiang Huan sneered, "If you want to prove it, why don't you let Ouyang Yue verify it on the spot?"
"How dare you!" Xuan Yuan Chaohua roared, her face filled with murderous intent as she glared at Jiang Huan. Jiang Huan was startled by her furious appearance and felt a little uneasy. However, the information she had heard was accurate, so she calmed herself down and said, "Ouyang Yue, why are you in such a hurry? Could it be that General Xuan Yuan is one of her lovers?"
"If you dare to talk nonsense again, I'll skin you alive!"
"Bang!" At the same time, Xuan Yuan Chaohua swiftly raised his sword and thrust it forward. Jiang Huan cried out "Ah!" and the sword pierced the ground with a "clang." Even so, Jiang Huan was terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. Xuan Yuan Chaohua's movements were too fast, and the guards who were with Jiang Huan were only able to rush forward in time to protect her.
Jiang Huan immediately retorted angrily, "I am a princess of the Great Gan Dynasty, how dare you disrespect me!"
Xuan Yuan Chaohua coldly stared at her: "This is the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty. You are just a princess of the Great Gan Dynasty. You are not allowed to act so presumptuously here. Is it the Great Gan Dynasty's preference to slander other people's innocence at will? Or are all women of the Great Gan Dynasty as shameless as Princess Jiang Huan and like to talk nonsense like this?"
The audience below the stage was initially startled by Xuan Yuan Chaohua's actions, but then they all nodded in agreement. This Princess Jiang Huan was indeed a troublemaker in this competition. Although she was good-looking and talented, she became increasingly unpleasant to watch in the end. She even spoke ill of Miss Ouyang Yue, and her eyes were filled with resentment.
Jiang Huan sneered, her eyes as cold as a venomous snake: "You wouldn't dare, would you? You're afraid of being exposed on the spot, aren't you? Besides, what is the relationship between Ouyang Yue and General Xuanyuan that makes you so protective? I heard that Ouyang Yue secretly left the General's mansion and stayed outside for over a year. May I ask, how did a young lady like her manage to survive and protect herself during that time? She may have some martial arts skills, but unfortunately, one fist can't fight against many hands. Even the General's mansion didn't know her whereabouts. What did she do during that year? Who was she with? Why didn't anyone ask? Or perhaps Ouyang Yue met you during that year, and... that's why you're protecting her so much."
Jiang Huan's words were like a stone thrown into water, instantly stirring up a thousand waves. Yes, who knows what Ouyang Yue did during the year she was away? Did she have an affair? Is she no longer a virgin and has lost all self-respect? She has no right to be the champion, much less to participate in this competition. Moreover, Emperor Mingxian and envoys from various countries are present. If Ouyang Yue did this, she would have committed the crime of deceiving the emperor.
Baili Chen's dark eyes gradually turned cold and icy. He clenched his fist, then slowly released it, and took a step forward.
“Amitabha, I met this female benefactor before returning to the capital.” Among the seven judges, Master Minghui, who had not spoken in public since the start of the competition, suddenly spoke, startling everyone and sending a shiver down their spines.
Master Minghui was considered the National Preceptor of the Great Zhou Dynasty, and even Emperor Mingxian held him in high esteem. Master Minghui was also known for his compassion, often leading monks to relieve the suffering of the people and help them with farm work. He was also a skilled physician, frequently treating patients and providing medicine. Furthermore, his Buddhist teachings were profound; some even said that objects he consecrated shone with golden light. He was considered the greatest monk in the history of the Great Zhou Dynasty, demonstrating his high status among the people. This wasn't limited to the Great Zhou Dynasty; the other four kingdoms also had followers of monks and Taoists. While these followers might seem insignificant, their influence was often considerable. Many of these kingdoms also venerated relics of the Buddha. In this era, disrespect for Buddhists, Taoists, and immortals was highly taboo, highlighting the respect and admiration that each dynasty held for highly accomplished monks.
This Master Minghui was not only famous in the Great Zhou Dynasty; in his youth, he traveled to various countries, leaving his mark on every land. Many people in those countries benefited from his teachings. Naturally, the royal families of those countries wouldn't easily accept such a highly accomplished monk. If they wanted, it was entirely possible for them to incite some people to rebel. Master Minghui's words were far more convincing than ten Jiang Huans.
"What?! You've met Ouyang Yue? Are you sure?!" Jiang Huan was stunned, staring incredulously at the crowd. Actually, she had sent people to investigate Ouyang Yue when she first made a name for herself at the beauty pageant. She knew that Ouyang Yue had been away from the capital for a year, and few knew where she had gone. She hadn't paid much attention, believing the rumors circulating in the capital at the time, and had even felt sorry for Ouyang Yue, thinking she was weak and powerless for being driven away by an orphaned girl from out of town. But just now, someone had suddenly handed her a note, saying that Ouyang Yue hadn't been forced away during that year, but rather that she had been secretly meeting with a man and having an affair to cover her tracks.
Jiang Huan was hesitant, but upon reflection, it was indeed a possibility. Besides, if this affected Ouyang Yue's qualification, and Zi Si died, Jiang Huan would easily advance in the rankings and enter the top three. While Mu Yao Cuiwei would also win the championship due to her advancement, who would pay attention to her in her miserable state? She would be the real beneficiary. After careful consideration, the more she thought about it, the more likely Ouyang Yue was to lose her virginity. Even if Ouyang Yue wasn't forced to undergo a physical examination on the spot, her reputation would be ruined, and her championship would be in jeopardy. Jiang Huan was willing to take the gamble.
Moreover, the letter claimed with absolute certainty that someone had seen Ouyang Yue with a black-clad, masked man, and that the two were very close. The letter even included a description of the man's features. Jiang Huan felt the story was likely true, but Ouyang Yue had been with Master Minghui for the past year—wasn't that person just playing a trick on her? However, she searched everywhere but couldn't find the man. How infuriating! Jiang Huan gritted her teeth and frowned, saying, "Master Minghui, you wouldn't think Ouyang Yue is a citizen of your Great Zhou, so you're deliberately making excuses for her, would you? You're a nun; can you tell such lies?"
"What do you mean? Master Minghui is the foremost holy monk of our Great Zhou Dynasty. How dare you slander him?"
"That's right, losing is losing. It's a joke that a princess of a country can't accept defeat."
"Hahaha, that's right. You didn't have the ability to win the beauty pageant, so you like to resort to these dirty tricks. Not only did you smear Miss Ouyang's reputation, but you also dared to question Master Minghui. What kind of person are you!"
"Shameless! Despicable! Is this the kind of scum that comes from our great nation?!"
"How dare you speak to me, the princess, like that? You have a death wish!" Jiang Huan, her face turning ashen with rage, roared as she listened to the jeers and mockery from the audience in the stands. "Guards! Arrest all these lowly commoners who have committed such an offense!"
"She's enraged, she really is enraged! She did it on purpose! The princess of Daqian Kingdom is such a lowlife!" Jiang Huan's actions only fueled the anger of the crowd on the platform. Even the citizens of Daqian Kingdom couldn't help but look at Jiang Huan with some resentment. She had even joined in the cursing. As ordinary citizens, they didn't care about the royal family's reputation. Compared to their fear of the royal family, they actually respected Buddhism and Taoism more from the bottom of their hearts. Jiang Huan's questioning of Master Minghui was impolite in itself, and her subsequent arrogant and domineering attempt to arrest people only fueled the public's anger.
However, the guards, upon receiving the order, turned around and were about to rush over to arrest the person.
"Stop! Anyone who dares to move will be killed without mercy!" A majestic and angry voice rang out, startling everyone present and sending a shiver down their spines.
At this moment, Emperor Mingxian's eyes were as sharp as swords, and a single glance from him sent shivers down people's spines. He looked at Jiang Huan with an indescribable somber expression: "Princess Jiang Huan, this is the territory of the Great Zhou Dynasty. You actually led troops to try and capture my people, do you intend to use this to incite war between our two nations? Or is your participation in this beauty pageant merely a pretext, with the real purpose being to incite internal strife within the Great Zhou Dynasty? Hmm?"
Jiang Huan was suddenly startled, and Jiang Qi was also startled. He immediately stood up and said, "Emperor Mingxian, please calm down. My cousin Huan was just acting on impulse. She absolutely did not mean anything else. I, Da Gan, would certainly not do anything unnecessary under the guise of the beauty pageant. It's just a misunderstanding, really just a misunderstanding!"
"Is it a misunderstanding!" Emperor Mingxian sneered: "Guards, seize the person who just came out and execute him immediately!"
Jiang Qi's expression changed. Emperor Mingxian had actually executed the soldiers led by Da Gan in front of so many people. Wasn't that a huge slap in the face? The two countries were evenly matched. If Emperor Mingxian really let them be executed, he would definitely be reprimanded by his father when he returned. His other brothers would also use this as an opportunity to spread rumors, which would be very detrimental to him. After all, he hadn't ascended the throne yet, and there was still a possibility. He couldn't afford to make the slightest mistake: "Emperor Mingxian, these are my Da Gan guards. They came here to protect my safety. Who will protect my safety if you kill them? Emperor Mingxian's actions are too impulsive."
Emperor Mingxian sneered: "Prince of Daqian, you can rest assured. I will take full responsibility for your safety and ensure your safe return to Daqian. However, before that, those who dared to slander my eminent monks of Daqian and dared to lay a hand on the people of the Great Dynasty will be executed in front of the royal families and people of these five kingdoms. Prince of Daqian should know that the dignity of a monarch cannot be destroyed, and I will deal with them. Guards, execute them on the spot!"
Immediately, a group of people rushed out from behind Emperor Mingxian. Each of them had a cold and stern expression. They grabbed the few people who had just stepped forward on Jiang Huan's orders and, with a series of "crackling" sounds, sliced off their heads like watermelons. Fortunately, there weren't many people, only five, but the scene still sent a chill down the spines of everyone present.
Jiang Qi's face was ashen, his lips pressed tightly together, and his eyes flashed with rage. But the man had been killed, and he couldn't stop it. He also knew very well that they were on Great Zhou territory, and the Great Zhou emperor could imprison him at will. If he really angered him, he would be in deep trouble. However, being executed on the spot by Emperor Mingxian was utterly humiliating. Whether in Daqi or in other countries, he had never felt so aggrieved. He couldn't help but feel intense resentment towards Jiang Huan's thoughtless actions: "Fool!"
Jiang Huan's face was also pale. Emperor Mingxian's actions were undoubtedly meant to establish his authority and make things difficult for them. However, they had not only offended Emperor Mingxian but also incurred the resentment of the people. They could only suffer in silence. They had been dragged away immediately after their heads were cut off, but the bloodstains were still visible. Jiang Huan was so frightened that she dared not speak.
Mr. Qi snorted coldly: "Princess Jiang Huan has disrupted the competition on multiple occasions and has also maliciously framed Miss Ouyang Yue, disqualifying her from the competition. Miss Ouyang Yue is the champion of this year's beauty pageant!"
"Clap clap clap!"
"OK!"
"Ouyang Yue is the best, the best!"
A deafening roar of cheers erupted from the audience as Ouyang Yue slowly walked onto the stage, followed by the other contestants. The top five each received a gift, though Ouyang Yue, the first-place winner, received several times more jewelry than the others. They didn't care about any of that, but from this moment on, the champion of this competition would be famous far and wide.
Being the most beautiful woman in Langya Continent, even having the slightest connection to her is something to be incredibly proud of and something to boast about.
One person in the crowd was particularly excited. Ouyang Yue actually won the championship! I didn't expect her to have such ability. Good, not bad, she's more or less worthy of him.
"Third Sister won the championship, Young Master Huang must be very happy for her. However, Third Sister has just become the first place winner of the beauty pageant, her reputation is excellent, and her status has risen. I'm afraid ordinary families won't even look at her anymore." A soft sigh suddenly sounded in his ear. Huang Yu looked and saw that it was Ouyang Rou. He couldn't help but ask, "What do you mean by this?"
A cold glint flashed in Ouyang Rou's eyes as she sighed, "With Third Sister's current status, it's possible she could marry into the royal family in the future. I'm afraid she wouldn't acknowledge the engagement she had before. Seeing how happy the people are, even though Third Sister was in the wrong first, I doubt anyone will blame her. Fortunately, Third Sister broke off her engagement with the Hong family a long time ago and doesn't have any other engagements yet. Otherwise, I'm afraid she would try to use this to climb the social ladder and turn her back on her past."
Huang Yu's face stiffened. Who said Ouyang Yue wasn't engaged? He was! Just a few days ago, his mother and Madam Ning of the General's Mansion had exchanged betrothal gifts, and the marriage was already arranged. Did Ouyang Yue want to break off the engagement? Hmph! He would never agree. If Ouyang Yue didn't want to admit it, he would make him have no choice but to!
☆、147、Proposal in the main hall!
"Young Master Huang, you don't look well. Are you feeling unwell?" Seeing Huang Yu's sudden change in expression, Ouyang Rou asked gently. Huang Yu suddenly turned his head and glanced at Ouyang Rou's charming and affectionate face, revealing a smile that said, "It's nothing. I've just been sitting for a long time, and my body is a little stiff. Thank you for your concern, Miss Ouyang."
Ouyang Rou gave a light reply and walked back to her seat. She could clearly feel Huang Yu's gaze following her, and she sneered inwardly.
Ouyang Yue was surrounded by admirers in the stands, which Huang Yu noticed. "Hmph, you've turned your back on us. Ouyang Yue, you don't deserve that anymore!"
The news that Ouyang Yue had won the beauty pageant spread like wildfire throughout the capital. Only a small portion of the city's residents had come to watch the competition, as there were people from five different countries, as well as those from outside the capital who had come to see the spectacle. Most ordinary people hadn't come at all. Among them were those who had previously held prejudices against Ouyang Yue, and upon hearing the news, they were all stunned. Ouyang Yue had won the championship? She was going to be the most beautiful woman in the world? Was this some kind of joke? Was that the ugly woman Ouyang Yue from before really that good-looking?
Of course, some people who say these things will inevitably be attacked and insulted by the group, but that's another story.
In the General's Mansion, Ouyang Yue won the beauty pageant, and Ouyang Zhide specially held a banquet for her. Although it was only for the mansion for the time being, even the servants in the General's Mansion benefited from it, with each person receiving a one-tael increase in their monthly salary. Moreover, the entire mansion enjoyed today's banquet, which allowed them to satisfy their cravings to the fullest.
"Good, good, Yue'er is capable, truly capable. Grandmother is so proud of you, so very good." Old Madam Ning was too weak to go to the scene, but she had already sent people to find out the news. Before Ouyang Yue and the others had returned, the General's Mansion received the news. Although the news seemed unbelievable, Old Madam Ning was truly happy. She and Xi Mama and others actually waited for them to return to the mansion at the gate, which was unprecedented. As soon as Ouyang Yue returned, Old Madam Ning greeted her with great excitement.
Although Old Madam Ning's behavior was quite egregious before, she was ultimately controlled by someone. It's impossible not to blame her, but it's not to the point of hatred. Seeing Old Madam Ning excitedly clapping her hands, Ouyang Yue also put on a faint smile, which made Old Madam Ning even more excited.
Ning Shi coldly observed the jubilant atmosphere in the Anhe Hall, her face taut and tense. How infuriating! That little bitch Ouyang Yue had actually won the championship! With her abilities, were all the other contestants just idiots? How could she, an incompetent fool, have been defeated? But then a strange thought flashed through Ning Shi's mind. Wait a minute, she knew about this beauty pageant. If she hadn't feigned illness back then, she would have been utterly humiliated. Ning Shi's greatest skill over the years was her ability to assess situations. She had secretly calculated the talents of the other noble ladies from the capital who participated. Each of them possessed a special talent, while she was slightly inferior. But as the legitimate daughter of the Ning family, she couldn't afford to lose badly. So, she had no choice but to feign illness and not participate. Later, those noble ladies she considered quite good didn't achieve high rankings, and she secretly rejoiced that she hadn't gone on stage.
Therefore, she fully understood the difficulty of this competition. If Ouyang Yue were truly incompetent, how could she have won the championship? Even if this year's martial arts competition was more competitive, there was no way she could have made it into the top fifty. The only possibility was that Ouyang Yue truly had some skill. However, she had deliberately suppressed Ouyang Yue in the manor, never finding her any tutors for the selection process. Where did she learn all this? Could it be…? A thought flashed through Ning Shi's mind, and her hatred deepened. That little bitch Ouyang Yue had actually been playing mind games with her all along, secretly learning from her? Well, she had been on guard against her all along. But even so, in the end, Ouyang Yue still won!
That very day, Madam Ning had a bad feeling, so she secretly exchanged betrothal gifts with Madam He. Except for the last two items of the wedding ceremony, everything else was basically done; the marriage was a done deal and couldn't be changed! When she chose Huang Yu, she felt that if she had revealed it, Ouyang Zhide would definitely disagree. Given how much Ouyang Zhide doted on Ouyang Yue, he certainly wouldn't want a family with a shrewish mother-in-law. So she kept quiet. Now that Ouyang Yue had won the championship, Ouyang Zhide was even less likely to agree. Now that Ouyang Yue was both scholarly and martial, what kind of future husband couldn't she find? At the time, she only had a premonition, but it turned out to be true. However, it didn't matter. No matter how capable Ouyang Yue was now, she would never escape her grasp unless Ouyang Yue disregarded her reputation, unless she wanted to become a treacherous woman. Otherwise, she wouldn't be able to break this engagement!
The next day, a rumor suddenly spread in the capital: Ouyang Yue, the winner of this year's beauty pageant, was actually engaged to Huang Yu, the young master of the Huang family, who was a fourth-rank military equipment supervisor.
One is a second-rank general, the other a fourth-rank military equipment inspector; their ranks are vastly different. Ouyang Yue is marrying down. Leaving aside the official positions of her parents, Huang Yu, while somewhat famous in the capital, hasn't yet achieved any official rank. Although he seems respectable, he's simply not a good match for Ouyang Yue. This was in the past, when Ouyang Yue's reputation wasn't great, making her a suitable match for Huang Yu. Now, Ouyang Yue is renowned throughout the Langya Continent as the most beautiful woman in the land, worthy of being married to even a member of the royal family. To marry Huang Yu, a man with no power or official rank, is like a beautiful flower stuck in cow dung—it's infuriating.
Huang Yu confidently asserted that he possessed the marriage certificate, and it was probably true. Although these people felt sorry for Ouyang Yue, they wouldn't say anything. It was a marriage arranged by parents and matchmakers; what right did others have to question it?
At this moment, the general's mansion was shrouded in gloom.
"Smack!"
"Who arranged a marriage for Yue'er without permission? Ning Caiyue, it was you!" Ouyang Zhide sat in the hall, and Old Madam Ning, who was next to him, also came out after hearing the news. Originally, they thought that Huang Yu was just making things up because he couldn't get what he wanted, but Huang Yu even mentioned the marriage certificate, so it probably couldn't be fake. Ouyang Zhide was furious when he heard this.
Huang Yu is hardly a suitable match. Neither her father nor mother has any significant background; they were just ordinary people. Her mother is a peasant woman, narrow-minded and not of high social standing. Although Ouyang Zhide is generally unbiased, he is still of noble birth. While he may seem carefree in general, he is very concerned about his children's marriages, especially since this family is fundamentally mismatched. Even if Huang Qi is currently a fourth-rank official in the Military Equipment Bureau, a union between the two families might bring him some benefits, but those benefits are negligible compared to Ouyang Yue marrying into such a family.
Furthermore, given Ouyang Yue's current status and prestige, marrying Huang Yu would be an absolute step up for her. In the past, Ouyang Zhide worried about Ouyang Yue's marriage because of her bad reputation, and no one came to propose marriage. But now, things are completely different. His Yue'er can find any family she wants, so why does she have to marry into the Huang family? The He family is not someone to be trifled with.
"Explain yourself!" Ouyang Zhide pointed at Ning Shi, so angry that he pushed over a teacup on the table. The sound of the teacup shattering on the ground showed how furious Ouyang Zhide was.
Ning's face paled, inwardly cursing the Huang family for their terrible influence. She had insisted the marriage be kept secret until the very last moment, yet these people had spread the news. Wouldn't this cause further trouble? Moreover, Ouyang Zhide's anger was greater than she had anticipated. Fear gripped Ning's heart. She gritted her teeth and said, "Master, Yue'er is fourteen now, and will be of marriageable age next year. How can I, as her mother, not worry about her? Before, Yue'er had a bad reputation in the capital, and not a single well-to-do family came to propose marriage. Of course, I was anxious. Knowing my temperament, I don't know how it happened, but I instantly became close to this He Shi..." After several encounters, I discovered that Madam He was a cheerful and straightforward woman, not at all the shrew or tigress rumored. Having also met Huang Yu, I found him to be handsome and talented. Therefore, I decided to arrange this marriage for Ouyang Yue. At the time, I thought Yue'er's reputation wasn't good. If this matter were to be publicized, other young ladies might also fall for Huang Yu, which would be undesirable. So, I planned to arrange the marriage secretly. I even consulted my mother about it, and she agreed. My lord, I did all this for Yue'er's own good. I never imagined Yue'er would ultimately win the beauty pageant; otherwise, why would I have been so eager to arrange a marriage with the Huang family?
Ning's words were indeed reasonable. Old Ning's face stiffened upon hearing this, her gaze turning cold as she looked at Ning. She had indeed said that this matter was left to Ning's discretion, but she had also said that Ouyang Yue should not be wronged. The time when Ning asked her was certainly not a good one; she had been bedridden lately, sleeping three to five times a day, her mind no longer as sharp as before, and she had long forgotten about the matter. But was this a trap deliberately set by Ning?
Old Madam Ning said with a slightly sullen face, "You did ask me that day, and I said not to wrong Yue'er, but you acted quickly."
Ning's eyes flashed with cold light as she lowered her head and said, "I wanted to finalize the marriage first, but I was afraid that things might change if I waited too long. I never expected so many things to happen afterward. Sigh..." This was her way of absolving herself of all responsibility.
Ouyang Yue sat quietly to one side without saying a word. Ouyang Zhide looked at him and felt a pang in his heart. He suddenly shouted, "The marriage of children is the decision of their parents and the words of the matchmaker. When have you ever mentioned the marriage with the Huang family to me? When did I agree to it? How can this marriage be called off? Go to the Huang family right now and cancel this marriage for me."
Ning, her face pale, said, “But the betrothal papers have already been exchanged, sir. I am also Yue’er’s mother. Can’t I make decisions about her marriage? If you ask me to break off the engagement at the Huang residence, let alone whether the Huang family will agree, our General’s Mansion and Yue’er’s reputation will be greatly lost. Yue’er just won the beauty pageant. If she breaks off the engagement now, what will outsiders think of her? They will say she is vain and a petty person who tramples on the weak. Even if she marries into a good family now, it won’t be a good one. Sir, I have met Huang Yu many times. The reason he hasn’t achieved official rank yet is due to some coincidences. He is talented and will surely pass the exam. Then it won’t be too unfair to our Yue’er. I know you may be worried that He Shi is difficult to get along with, but I have met her many times. She is a very cheerful and straightforward person. She and Yue’er get along very well. Although this marriage is a bit unsatisfactory, it won’t be unfair to Yue’er.”
Ouyang Yue's eyes narrowed slightly as several fragments flashed through her mind. She had seen the Huang family's carriage leave the manor before, with Ning Shi seeing them off. Later, after the horse race, Huang Yu suddenly blocked her way and said some inexplicable things. Ning Shi had deliberately sent her away then; what was there to misunderstand? Ning Shi was deliberately trying to force her into a trap. However, Ning Shi certainly hadn't expected her to win first place, because if it was a top ten finisher, Huang Yu could barely be considered a good match, of course, without knowing the true nature of the Huang family.
Putting aside that shrew He Shi, Huang Yu's words when she stood in front of Ouyang Yue were enough to disgust her. It was clear she disrespected her as her future wife, arrogant and conceited, wanting to be the only one who mattered despite lacking real ability. Such a person probably didn't just fail the exam by chance; there was likely more to the story. Moreover, she had always suspected Ning Shi was one of the murderers who harmed her own mother; the two had a deep-seated grudge. For Ning Shi to be so kind as to offer her a good match meant the Huang family was probably worse than outsiders imagined. Was this what they meant by not mistreating her? Ning Shi certainly knew how to talk.
Ouyang Yue said calmly, "I know that you are thinking of me, but I am still young and there is no need to rush. Let's wait and see. I do not agree to this marriage."
Ning glared at him with resentment. Her words had clearly softened Ouyang Zhide's expression. Now that Ouyang Yue had said that, Ouyang Zhide was bound to change his mind. Sure enough, Ouyang Zhide said coldly, "Since you handled this matter, then you should resolve it. I do not agree to the marriage with the Huang family. Go and break off the engagement!"
Ning was furious and gritted her teeth, saying, "Master, the betrothal papers have already been exchanged, and the marriage is already set. We're just waiting for Yue'er to be officially married. How can we just cancel it like that? Besides, Yue'er is already famous. But to cancel the engagement as soon as she gains a good reputation is disgraceful. It's called being faithless, it's called being greedy for vanity, it's called turning her back on someone. What good reputation will Yue'er have left? Do you want people to point fingers at Yue'er and curse her? This marriage cannot be canceled."
Ouyang Yue sneered: "Mother can simply cancel the engagement. I will bear the consequences on my reputation. Even if I can never get married, I will not resent anyone."
Ning immediately scolded, "What are you saying? Why are you throwing a tantrum here? Do you think your mother would lie to you? The Huang family is definitely not like what outsiders say. I went to great lengths to choose this family. Why are you so disobedient? Yue'er, you were originally a simple and lovely child. Do you really think that winning a beauty pageant has made you too picky and you look down on others? That's absolutely unacceptable!"
Ouyang Yue's eyes flashed, and she quietly sipped her tea. The hall suddenly fell silent. Ning Shi's face paled, and she froze on the spot. She suddenly felt a suffocating discomfort, as if she couldn't breathe. She was afraid of Ouyang Yue sitting before her. How could this be? Ouyang Yue was just quietly drinking tea; what was there to be afraid of? She opened her mouth, but found that she couldn't utter a word. A suffocating feeling filled her chest, making it hard to breathe.
Ouyang Yue slammed her teacup down, calmly looking at Ning Shi and said, "Mother, you know perfectly well what I'm thinking. I can't fathom it myself. However, I will absolutely not marry into the Huang family. Even if it leads to mutual destruction, even if my reputation is ruined, I don't care at all. So, I'll trouble you, Mother, to go to the Huang family and cancel the engagement. Otherwise, we can find a substitute bride. I, Ouyang Yue, am making this clear today: I would rather die than marry Huang Yu." With that, Ouyang Yue coldly looked at Ning Shi. That one glance sent a chill through Ning Shi; a coldness rose rapidly from her feet to the top of her head, making her tremble. Ouyang Yue still possessed such power; just one look from her felt like countless ice knives piercing her heart, making her tremble.
By the time she came to her senses, Ouyang Yue had already left the hall. Madam Ning was startled and immediately cried out, "Yue'er, how could you be so reckless..."
"Shut up! Since Yue'er has made up her mind, then you go and do it. You're the one who brought this marriage together, so you'll have to cancel it. If you can't, it just means you don't have the ability to be the head of the household. You'd better watch yourself." Ouyang Zhide stood up, gave Ning Shi a cold snort, and turned to leave.
Ning Shi froze on the spot. Although Ouyang Zhide's words were brief, they clearly told her that if she couldn't quietly cancel the engagement and cause unnecessary trouble, then she was no longer qualified to be the mistress of the General's Mansion. Was he going to divorce her? Ning Shi's face turned pale, and she gritted her teeth. She had been married to Ouyang Zhide for over twenty years and had always been devoted to him. How could he divorce her just because of that wretched girl Ouyang Yue's marriage? What fairness was there in that?
"Ah, Mother has really worked hard. She did it all for Third Sister's good, but she doesn't appreciate it at all." At this moment, a sigh came from beside her. Ning Shi immediately looked over with a cold eye. It was Ouyang Rou, who said helplessly, "What do you mean? How dare you laugh at me?"
Ouyang Rou looked alarmed and said, "Mother, you misunderstand. Rou'er is truly standing up for you. All you did was for Yue'er's sake. The Huang family is no ordinary family, and Huang Qi is a fourth-rank military equipment supervisor in the court. If the two families were to unite, it would only benefit Father. I suppose you chose the Huang family because you were thinking of Father. Unfortunately, Father only cared about Yue'er's wishes and forgot that. Rou'er is speaking up for you, Mother. I would never dare to mock you. Please don't misunderstand." As she spoke, Ouyang Rou's face showed some indignation, which made Ning Shi sneer inwardly.
Didn't she see Ouyang Rou whispering to Huang Yu at the royal hunting grounds? Although she didn't hear what they were saying, given Ouyang Rou's past behavior, it was probably mostly about seducing Huang Yu. Indeed, Huang Yu was no match for Ouyang Yue now, but for Ouyang Rou, a woman whose birth mother was dead, whose maternal family had executed her, and who had been defiled by different men, Huang Yu was a perfect match. She knew Ouyang Rou's little schemes, but Ouyang Rou was of no use to her; Ouyang Yue was the one she needed to control first. Therefore, this marriage absolutely could not be called off. However, Ouyang Zhide was no joke, which put Ning Shi in a difficult position, unsure of what to do next.
Seeing the mockery on Ning's face, Ouyang Rou knew she had misunderstood. However, Ouyang Rou wanted to use this misunderstanding to lower her guard, and said softly, "Alas, this matter is not Mother's fault. After all, it involves both families. Even if the General's Mansion wants to annul the engagement, what can Mother do if the Huang family doesn't give in? Can we hold a knife to their throats and force them? That would probably only worsen the General's Mansion's reputation."
Ning's eyes suddenly lit up. Ouyang Rou was right. Ouyang Zhide wanted her to annul the engagement, but this wasn't something she could decide alone. Annuling an engagement wasn't so easy. If the Huang family refused to annul the engagement, even if she had handled things poorly, how could she be blamed? After all, her previous explanation for Ouyang Yue's sake was impeccable. If Ouyang Zhide divorced her because of this, it would be unreasonable. She would have her mother lead the Ning family to make a scene. Would Ouyang Zhide dare to divorce her then? She glanced at Ouyang Rou, seeing the latter's ingratiating expression, and smiled, "Rou'er has grown up. Don't worry, after your sister gets married, your mother will definitely find a good match for you. Don't be anxious." With that, she turned and left with a smile.
Ouyang Rou looked at Ning Shi with a cold smile, "Did you think I did this for you? You're just being presumptuous!"
Ouyang Yue is so successful now, while she lives such a miserable life. How unfair is fate! Originally, she wanted to keep a low profile and find an opportunity to regain her former glory, but she simply couldn't bear to see herself suffering while Ouyang Yue was swaggering around. She was suffering, and she would never let Ouyang Yue have an easy time. Ouyang Yue didn't want to marry, but now she had no choice but to. If she didn't want to marry, she would have to bear the consequences of a ruined reputation, and she would make Ouyang Yue's reputation a hundred times worse than before.
Inside Chenyu Palace, the atmosphere was terrifyingly oppressive. The eunuchs and maids had long since been dismissed by Baili Chen, yet they were all working with increasing efficiency, afraid of making a mistake and displeasing him. In the entire palace, Chenyu Palace had the fastest turnover of palace staff. Palace servants there often died inexplicably, and since Baili Chen was the Emperor's most favored prince, the Emperor never investigated these deaths, gradually turning Chenyu Palace into a veritable hellscape within the palace. The only thing the servants could do was be extremely cautious.
But today's seventh prince is a hundred times more terrifying than usual!
"Huang Yu, we let him off easy last time, giving this clown a chance to stir up trouble." Baili Chen glanced at the letter in his hand and threw it on the ground. Leng Sha immediately took the letter and envelope and burned them before returning and saying, "Master, should I kill him now?"
"Kill him? This Huang Yu truly deserves to die. I wish I could make him taste the insect bites, but it's not wise to act rashly now." Baili Chen's face was cold, but he suppressed his anger and said.
Leng Sha was somewhat puzzled. In the past, his master would have ordered the killing of Huang Yu in such a situation. Why would he spare Huang Yu today? It was really illogical.